Fuel-supply system



Aug. 1l, 1925. L54954 J. H. HUNT FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Shea?, l

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Filed June 2l, 1925 eff Aug. u, 1925. m5495254 J. H. HUNT FUEL SUPPLY SYS TEM Filed June 2l, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /zz 4kg:

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J. H. HUNT FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM Fi1ed Jue 21, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZTVJSQZUPHE Patented Aug. 11, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE.

JOHN H. HUNT, F DAYTON, 015110', yASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH COR- PORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F I)ELMABCFI'.`

Application led .Tune 21, 1923. Serial No. 646,911.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN H. HUNT, a

citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel- Supply Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to fuel supply systems for internal combustion engines and particularly for automotive vehicles.

It is among the objects of the invention to supply liquid fuel to the carburetor of an engine from a fuel supply tank independently of the operation of the engine.

The invention in one of its forms provides a fuel pump operated by an electric motor on current from the storage battery or generator driven by the engine. The pump operates intermittentl to maintain at least a certain amount of uel in an auxiliary tank located at a level above the engine carburetor. From this tank fuel is permitted to flow by gravity into the carburetor Hoat bowl.

Further objects of the invention include providing a unitary structure adapted to be mounted upon an automobile and comprising a motor driven pump, an auxiliary tank and means for controlling the ump whereby at least a certain amount of fuel will'be contained in the auxiliary' tank.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein preferred forms of embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.`

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a form of the present invention, the section being taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, the cover of the motor switch being removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1

Fig. G is a sectional view on line 6-G of Fig. l.

Fig. 7'is a sectional View showing a portion of thel brush rigging for the motor.

Fig is a Wiring diagram of electrical circults included in the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the unitary structure includes a motor field frame attached to motor end frames 21 and 22 by through-bolts 23. Frames 21 and 22 are provided with bearings 25 and 26 respectively within which is journalled a motor shaft 24 connected with an armature or rotor 27 and a commutator 28, -and having a square end 24a entering a square hole in a gear 29 included in the gear fuel pump. The shaft and parts carried thereon are supported by bearing 30 resting Ona Washer 31 providing a cover for a recess or intermediate chamber 22a formed by an annular boss 22b integral with end frame 22. Washer 31 is provided with a lug 31l received by a notch in boss 22b to prevent the Washer 31 from turning.

The bearing 30 closely fits against the washer 31 and a shoulder 30a on shaft 24 and tends to prevent fluid flowing along the shaft 24 into the motor housing. The washer 31 closely fits the upper edge of boss 22b to prevent leaking of Huid directly' from the recess 22a into the motor.

Pump gear 29 meshes with pump gear 32 mounted on shaft 33. These gearsv rotate within a suitable gear chamber 34 (see Fig. 3) provided in a boss 35 depending from the motor end frame 22. The gear recess 34 is closed by cover 36 attached by screws 37. The end Jframe 22 (see Fig. 5) provides a fuel intake passage 38 entering the pump gear recess 34 at a point above the gears as indicated at 39 in Fig. 5. A pipe connection 40 is attached to frame 22 by screws 41 which also secure a screen 42 across passage 38. The frame 22 provides a drain duct 43 connected withv recess 22, and by hole 44 with a fuel reservoir 59. The pump outlet is provided by hole 45 in cover 36. The pump inlet and outlet are located on o posite sides of a pump gear shaft, the inlet being above the gears and the outlet being below the ears.

Means` or maintainingV the pipe in a primed condition includes a cup-shaped reservoir or priming cup attached in any suitable manner to the underside of the end frame 22 as by means of screws 51. The priming cup 50 supports a channel shapedA part 52 which extendsfrom the end frame 22 downwardly and terminates a short distance from the bottom of the priming cup 50 so as to provide a fuel passage 53 from the cup. 50. A hole 54 leads from passage 53 to the reservoir 59.

The auxiliary fuel tank 59 included in the unitary structure of the present invention comprises a cover, provided by end frame 22, and a tubular member 60 attached to a flange 61 at its upper end, and a cup-shaped bottom plate 62 attached to member 60. The flange 61 is attached by screws 61a to the motor end frame 22 there being a pack; ing gasket 63 between the flange 61 and the frame 22. The bottom plate supports a fuel outlet member 64 provlded with side holes 65 leading into a central passage 66 having a threaded portion 67. Member 64 supports the washer 68'for guiding a rod 69 supporting a float 70 and attached at 71 to a lever 72 which is pivoted at 73 to a bracket 74 attached to the tube or shell 60.

The mechanism or automatic switch for controlling the motor includes switch contacts 80 and 81. Referring to the wiring diagram in Fig. 8, contact 81 is grounded and contact 80 is insulated and connected with one of the motor brushes 82. The other motor brush is designated at 83 and is connected with motor fields 84 and 85. 85 is connected with a suitable terminal 86, which may be carried at any convenient place on the motor field. The terminal 86 is connected with the terminal 87 of the switch 87 which may be the ignition switch for the internal combustion motor. Connected to the terminal 87 is a wire 87 b which leads to the coil of the ignition system not shown on the drawing. The ignition switch 87a is also connected with the storage battery 88 so that when said switch is operated to circuit closing position current may flow from the battery to the terminal 87 where the circuit will be divided, one portion flowing to the pump motor via the terminal 86 while the other portion flows to the ignition coil via the wire 87".

The motor is constructed so that the pump gears 29 and 32 will be rotated in a direction of the arrows 89 and 90 respectively of Fig. 3. The fuel entering the pump chamber 34 at the top will be pushed by the gears from the left side of the gear shafts to the right side thereof and will be forced out through the pump outlet 45 into the priming chamber 50. The chamber 50 will first be filled with fuel to thelevel of the 'aperture 54 and then fuel will How from the chamber 50 into the auxiliary storage tank 59. Obviously the pump gears will be maintained in a submerged state in order to maintain' the pump in a primed condition.

The movable contact 81 is controlled by the float 70 by mechanism which will now be described. ontact 81 is mounted on a U-shaped resilient member of sheet material Field y 91 having branches 92 attached by screws 93 to switch plate 94 attached to the motor end frame 21 by screws 94a and one of the screws 23. The contact 80 is mounted on a screw 95 adjustable in a bracket 96 including feet 97 which are attached to a nonconducting plate 98 which is supported by and attached to the plate 94. The bracket 96 carries a stop member 99 of non-conducting material. A plate 100 is supported by spacers 101 which surround thevscrews 93 and space the plate 100 from the plate 94. Plate 100 is clamped between the screws 93 and spacers 101, and the branches 92 of contact support 91 are clamped between the spacers 101 and the plate 94. The plate 100 is provided with an apertured ear 102 for receiving the shank 103 of a toggle link 104 having a knife edge 105 for engaging a toggle plate 106 having notched edges engaged respectively by the knife edge 105 and the yoke of the contact plate 91. A spring 107 is located between the ear 102 and the shoulder 108 provided by the toggle plate 104. Plate 104 is apertured at 109 to receive a sleeve 110 located between nuts 111 and 112 screwed on the upper end of a rod 113 attached at 114 to the float lever 72.

The operation of the float controlled motor switch is as follows: Assuming the switch contacts 80 and 81 to be opened as shown in Fig. 1 the closing of the contacts is affected by the falling of the fuel in the tank 60 to a certain level. As fuel is used from the tank 60 the float 70 descends causing the nut 111 likewise to descend and engage the toggle plate 104 and cause it to move downwardly until the point of contact between the knife edge 105 and the plate 106 is below a center line passing through the center of the left hand end of the shank 103 of plate 104 andv through the point of contact between the contact plate 91 and the toggle plate 106. Because spring 107 urges the plate 104 toward the plate 106 the plates 104 and 106 will be placed in a downwardly diverging relation as shown in Fig. 1. Since the force applied to the toggle plate 106 to the contact plate 91 has a vertically upward component, the contactl 81 will be moved upwardly into engagement with the contact 80 permitting the toggle plate 106 to be downwardly inclined toward the rod 113, the movement of the plate 106being limited by engagement with the non-conducting member 97.

The motor then will receive current from the battery and will operate the pump causing fuel to be withdrawn from a fuel tank and delivered into the auxiliary tank 60. As the level of fuel on tank 60 rises, the oat 70 will rise and finally canse the nut 112 to engage the underside of the toggle plate 104. When the plate 104 has been moved until the point of engagement of its knife edge 105 with the toggle plate 106 is above the center line joining the center of the left hand end of shank 103 with the point of engagement of plate 106 with plate 91, then due to the action of spring 107, plates 104 and 106 will be moved so that they are placed in upwardly converging relation as shown in Fig. `1. lVhen this occurs the force supplied by the toggle plate 106 to the plate 91 will have a vertically downward component causing the 4contact 81 to be separated from the contact 80. The motor will then be disconnected from the battery and the pump will stop until sufficient fuel has been withdrawn from the tank to cause the contacts 80 and 81 to be closed again as already described.

The motor switch is enclosed by cover 120 held in position by means of a nut 121 engaging a stud 122.

The tank and pump unit may be supported in any convenient manner upon the automobile, for example, by means of bracket 130 attached to the field frame 20 and adapted to be attached by bolts 131 to the dash board 132 of anv automobile.

The aperture provided in frame 22 for receiving rod 113 intersects the duct 43 so that fluid may pass from duct 43 into the tank 59` as well as out from the pumping unit.-

The field frame 2O is provided with openings 140 to provide for facile circulation' of air throu h the motor in order to dilute fuel vapors W ich may enter the motor housing to such extent that no explosion could take place.

The motor brushes 82 and 83 are adjustably mounted in the Supporting elements 141, said supporting elements being secured to the motor end frame 21 in any suitable manner.

While the forms of embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I'claim is as follows:

1. A pum ing unit comprising the coml bination Wit a pump and a priming chamber enclosing the pump; of a tank enclosing the pum and priming chamber; and a motor for riving the pump.

2. A pumping unit comprising the combination with a motor including an end frame member; of a pum motor and carried by sai frame member; and a tank communicating with said pump and attached to said frame member. 4

3. A pumping unit comprising the combination with a motor including an end frame member; of a pump driven by said motor and carried by said frame member; a priming chamber for said pump attached driven by said to said frame member; and a tank communicating with said pump and attached to said frame member.

4. `A pumping 'unit comprising the combination with a motor including an end frame member; of a pump driven by said motor and carried by said frame member; a priming chamber for said pump attached to said frame'member; and enclosing said pump; and a tank communicating with the priming chamber; and enclosing said pump and chamber.

5. A pumping unit comprising the combination with a motor including a rotor and shaft therefor adapted to be operated with the shaft vertical, and including a frame member support-ing said rotor on one side thereof; of a pump driven by said motor, and carried by said frame member on the side thereof .opposite the rotor; and a tank supported by said frame, said frame constituting a cover for the tank.

6. A pumping unit comprising the combination with a pump including a frame member providing a shaft bearing; of a motor including a shaft therefor extending through said bearing into the pum and means for preventing the flowr of flui along said shaft to said motor.

7. A pumping unit comprising in combination, a motor including a housing having a field shell, end frames and a rotatable member including a shaft journaled in said end frames; a pump provided in one end frame and driven by the shaft of the rotatable member; a fuel tank supported by said end frame; a motor switch; and an intermediate chamber including a passage formed in the pump containing end frame for trapping fuel and conducting it away from the motor housing.

8. A pumping unit comprising the combination with a pump including a frame member providing a shaft bearing; of a motor including a shaft therefor extending through said bearing into the pump; and mea-ns for preventing the flow of fluid along said shaft to the motor and for conducting away from the motor fluid leaking past said bearing.

9. A pumping unit comprising in combination, a motor including a field shell, end

frames and a rotatable member having a shaft journaled in said end frames; a pump carried by one end frame and driven by the shaft of the rotatable member; and a motor switch carried by the other end frame.

10. A pumping unit comprising incombination, a motor including-a field shell, end frames and a rotatable member having a shaft journaled in said end frames; a ump provided in the one end frame and riven by the shaft of the rotatable member.; a fuel,

tak supported byv said end frame; a motor switch carried by the other end frame; and

means responsive to the liquid level in the tank for operating said swltch.

11. A pumping unit comprising the oombination with a motor having provisions for '5 securing the motor to a support; of a motor driven pump and tank supported by the motor.

12. A pumping unit comprising in oombination, a motor including a. field shell; a. l0 pump driven by the motor; a'fuel tank;

In testimony whereof I hereto afixniy signature.

JOHN H. HUNT.

Witnesses:

GEO. E. PAsco, WM. P. PASCO. 

